I live on 1½ acres of land about 3 miles from Mt. Shasta City at an elevation of 3800 feet. I live simply, enjoying gardening, orcharding and the pleasures of a more rural, slow paced life. I love to hike and explore the surrounding natural beauty. I prefer the clean air, clean water, low crime, low population density and great community this area affords.

I was the chief engineer for the regional NPR affiliate out of Ashland Oregon in the mid 1990's. (See Home Power issue #63 cover story for details of solar powered transmitters and a great picture of Mt. Shasta.)

I serve on the board of our local Transition Town coordinating group, Mount Shasta Commons. http://www.shastacommons.org/

I am self employed designing, installing and maintaining renewable energy systems in the local area. I specialize in off grid and battery back up grid-ties. I strongly believe in the importance of efficiency upgrades and conservation before renewables, so let the new "expert$" do the lipstick on McMansion projects. I also do electrical wiring and some electronic repair.

The primary use of the system is for grid backup and as a "zero energy" home demonstration system for potential customers interested in renewable energy.

For years my basic household energy needs were been met with a 1.4 kW PV system feeding a single Trace SW-4024.
In 2004, I upgraded the system to a more efficient Outback inverter and an additional 1.8 kW of PV.
In 2007 I added an additional 1.3 kW of PV.
In 2009 I added an additional .5 kW of PV.

This allows me to bank surplus generation with the local utility company during the summer (around 2.7 mWh in 2007) for use in the heat pump for winter heating. Along with the addition of hydronic space heating from my surplus solar hot water (two 4 X 10 flat panels collectors) my home has been "zero energy" since around 2004 (~109%).

Including winter heating loads my home uses 14 kWh per day.

With peak oil, climate destabilization and national bankruptcy at our collective doorstep, I feel focusing on resiliency and sustainability is paramount. Because of this, I feel it is important to be responsible for as much on site generation of my energy needs (including food) as is possible. I am very enthusiastic about renewables and feel it is appropriate to have a system which shows others by example, the feasibility of this even in our cold, Mount Shasta climate.

The design and installation work are the easy part. Educating the customer is where my real work begins. Most folks are not interested in learning about conservation and efficiency. They want to mindlessly "turn it on" and pay the bill at the end of the month, or the sociopaths want to put in gigantic systems to compensate for waste and unconscious consumption. Understanding that renewables powering waste is not green, I turn these jobs down for ethical reasons. The biggest challenge I face is getting people to look at the long term picture and the real costs of that "cheap" .14 / kWh of "brown" power.

Unfortunately, the only thing that will really change human behavior is a heavily tiered energy rates or outright rationing. That will come soon enough.